Meyer keeps faith with Jean De Villiers

Heyneke Meyer will keep faith with "fighter" and captain Jean De Villiers for South Africa's crucial World Cup clash with Samoa.

South Africa face Samoa at Villa Park on Saturday, desperate to get their World Cup campaign back on track after last weekend's shocking 34-32 defeat to Japan.

Head coach Meyer admitted he deliberated whether to drop skipper De Villiers following a hugely disappointing outing from the centre on Sunday before ultimating opting against such a move, accepting however that should the call backfire his job will be under huge pressure.

"It was one of the most difficult decisions of my life to make," said Meyer on retaining De Villiers in his starting line-up.

"You are almost in a lose-lose situation because if you don't pick your captain and you lose, they say you should have picked your captain, and if you do pick your captain and you lose, then you shouldn't have stuck with your captain.

"It's not an emotional decision."

De Villiers dislocated his knee against Wales in November but made an impressively resolute and quick recovery to take his place in South Africa's final World Cup squad.

The 34-year-old struggled along with the rest of the Springboks to impose themselves against Japan, Eddie Jones' men shocking the world with Saturday's triumph in Brighton with a mix of courageous defence, a disciplined set-piece and a well-worked gameplan.

Meyer refusal to drop the former Munster centre comes amidst making eight changes to theSouth African starting line-up.

South Africa's sports minister warned the team to turn their poor World Cup start on its head, while Meyer confessed that defeat to the Brave Blossoms had meant the Springboks had let down their country.

The emotive and bullish rhetoric has continued however with Meyer suggesting South Africa as a nation could learn a thing or two from the faith he has exhibited in staying loyal to De Villiers.

"I thought about it long and hard and came to the conclusion that this is a must-win game and who are you going to back?" said Meyer.

"I had a long and hard chat with him and I just decided as a coach, and I will stand by my decision, that if you go into a fight that you have to win, that your whole career and whole country depends on, I really want to take a guy that has had six knee operations.

"It was a tough choice but I know it's the right choice and I'll back him and if we, as South Africans, maybe backed each other more, South Africa would be a better place with less hate and violence and more love.

"I spoke to the team as well. They back him, they want him.

"We deserve all the criticism. It is unacceptable for the Springboks. We are a proud nation and a proud team.”